How Much Do You Think You are Worth?

“A bar of iron costs $5, made intocharged $25 an hour. I shudder every time I think
horseshoes its worth is $12, made into needles itsabout how little I thought of myself. Talk about
worth is $3500, made into balance springs forshooting yourself in the foot.
watches, its worth is $300,000. Your own value is2) When I first started my business I treated it
determined also by what you are able to makeas a hobby, not a bonafide business. I would put
of yourself.” - Wayne Dyersomeone else’s needs ahead of my own in a
How much do you think you are you worth? Howheart beat. It wasn’t until I started treating
much success do you think you deserve? Aremy business like a business, that my business
you worth a $5 bar of iron or a $300,000 balancebecame a business.
spring for a fine watch? You are what you make3) Again, when I started my coaching business, it
of yourself. Herein lies the problem. We allowwas suggested that I use my given name,
others to determine our self-worth and howBeverly, because it sounded more professional
much success we should or should not have. Ifthan Cookie. And of course, believing others knew
we don’t put a high value on our ownmore than I did, I acquiesced. After about a year,
self-worth, do you think anyone else will?I was having a major identity crisis with the name
One of my first coaches and mentors used to tellthing. I had been nicknamed “Cookie” since
me that everything I wanted to know aboutbirth and that’s all anyone had ever called me
success and finding my way home (findingand I liked it. I decided to risk not being liked.
myself), could be learned from the movie,Hence, Success Source was born, featuring yours
“The Wizard of Oz.” At the time Itruly, Cookie Tuminello, Success Coach.
didn’t get it. Oh sure, I knew the story ofAre you beginning to see how easily we can sell
Dorothy and The Wizard of Oz, but not in theourselves short?
sense that he was talking about. You have toNow, here are three examples of what it means
realize I was pretty clueless and unconscious into value yourself as a finely tuned Rolex watch.
those days. So clueless in fact that when my1) I now value myself and the value of the
coach asked me to stop and check in withservice I provide for my clients. The service I
myself, I thought he meant the hotel we wereprovide makes a difference in their lives. I now
staying at for the seminar he was giving. Likeset my fees and stand proudly when I present
Dorothy, it took me a while to get the bigthem. No more shuddering for me.
“IT.”2) I now choose the clients I work with, and the
The “Big IT” for me was finally waking uphours that I am available to serve them. My
and realizing that I had everything I needed to beclients respect the fact that I am a professional
successful right inside of me. I just needed towhich in turn teaches them to value themselves.
learn what the right tools were that would allow3) I now experience more productivity, more
me to unlock my inner answers.profit, and more power in my business than ever
The second “Big IT” was realizing that Ibefore. Not to mention I now have more success
had choices. I did not have to settle for becomingwith a lot less stress.
a horseshoe when I could be a spring for a RolexAre you beginning to see the difference?
watch.Then you need to ask yourself this question: Are
Your self-worth and your success is defined andyou a $5 bar of iron or a $300,000 balance spring
determined by YOU. It is an extension of whofor a fine watch? And if you have trouble figuring
you are. You have to own it before you can sell itit out, take out a pen and paper and make a list
to someone else.of what’s working and what’s not
Here are three examples of what happens whenworking in your business. Take action to eliminate
you value yourself as a $5 bar of iron.that which is making you feel like a bar of iron.
1) When I first hung out my coaching shingle, IRemember your ultimate success starts and ends
agonized over how much to charge. I was sowith you.
worried about attracting clients that I only